Corinne (Carlson) Rasmussen

Corinne Carlson Rasmussen, 82, died May 3, 2022 in Portage, WI. Her final days were spent with family by her side, all greeted by her bright smile every visit. We miss her beyond words or understanding. We miss the ease with which she filled every room with warmth, joy, and her magnificent huge smiles. She reveled in time with family and dear friends: by far her most valued abundance of life. She was always up for an adventure and during our many cross-country road trips would wonder aloud at the stunning beauty of national parks as well as the smaller beauties of a songbird, spring blossom or open field, wonders we carry on with us. She had a contagious laugh and listening ear that drew our childhood and adult friends to her, and when we told her good news she would celebrate with her bright happy trademark “HALLELUJAH!” We didn’t think we could love her more until we saw her with her grandchildren: she was their instant friend and co-mischief maker, reading endless books and taking hours-long meandering walks with them, and so we were reminded anew what one-in-a-million good fortune we have had being her children. Corinne Margaret Carlson was born March 20, 1940 in Rockford, IL to Palmer and Margaret (Sandburg) Carlson. She grew up in Rockford active in school, music, and her family’s Zion Lutheran Church. Corinne was preceded in death by her parents Palmer and Margaret, brothers Joel and Jon, daughter Beth Margit, and grandson Palmer Thomas. Those of us still here missing her every day are Buzz Rasmussen, her loyal husband and co-adventurer of 60 years, children Greta (Tom), Kurt (Nicole) and Sarah (Chris), grandchildren Allison, Kyle, Petra, Ruby, Rhys, Bergen, Solveig, and Kolten, siblings David (Mary) Carlson and Janet (Larry) Dykstra, and cousin Turid (John) Addams, among so many other dear family and friends. Corinne attended and graduated from East High school in Rockford and Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a degree in speech therapy. She and Buzz moved to Wisconsin and later settled in Hartland where they raised their three children. For several years she was employed by Hartland Clinic and Oconomowoc Hospital doing what she did best, welcoming patients. She also especially cherished her years of work with children as an educational assistant at Hartland Swallow Grade School. Buzz and Corinne moved to Green Lake in 1998 to enjoy small town living in their lovely riverside home which was often filled to the brim with visiting grandchildren, grand-dogs, and laughter. Heartfelt gratitude to those who cared for Corinne at The Rivers Memory Care Home in Portage, WI these past few years, you gave her (and us!) a bright home full of dignity, friendships, and laughter. There will be a visitation Celebration of Corinne’s life on Sunday, September 18th from 1-4 pm in the Evjue Commons space at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison. All are welcome to come to greet family and friends, share stories, and celebrate Corinne’s legacy of kindness, strength, and her unfailing celebration of others’ achievements and happiness, to which she contributed in so many ways large and small. Hallelujah!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Corinne (Carlson) Rasmussen, please visit our floral store.